Two goals by Frank Lampard and one apiece from Michael Essien, Didier Drogba and an own goal to open the scoring from Gael Givet secured all three points that put Chelsea back on the top of the pile.
But it was Cole's performance that shone out like a beacon. The England midfielder returned to the starting line-up in the Premier League for the first time since the 3-0 defeat at Manchester United on January 11.
And within 30 seconds he could have scored but missed a sitter, heading a Lampard chip wide of Paul Robinson's goal from six yards out.
It took another ten minutes before the Blackburn goal was threatened and this time Lampard arrowed a trademark 20-yard blaster that had Robinson beaten but flew inches wide of goal.
But the opener was not long coming and, on 20 minutes, Blackburn defender Givet overstretched to an Nicolas Anelka left byline cross and sliced the ball in past Robinson and his right post from six yards out.
Drogba then hacked a golden chance wide with his left foot a minute later.
The visitors finally had a shot worthy of the name on 27 minutes when Morten Gamst Pedersen drove a smart right footer from 15 yards out but the ball was inches wide of Petr Cech's right post.
Lampard had a glorious chance to double the lead on 32 minutes but a powerful downward header from eight yards out went just wide. Seconds later and Robinson was on hand to foil Anelka from close range.
Robinson was called into action again on 38 minutes tipping over a vicious right-footed 25-yard pile-driver from Drogba.
Robinson then produced two fine saves in stoppage time - one from John Terry and the second from Drogba.
But within two minutes of the restart, Lampard rammed home from ten yards out a loose ball off Lars Jacobsen to double the score.
On 52 minutes, Essien got in on the act with a thumping 30 yarder which curled in the air and beat Robinson all ends up.
Anelka then produced two fine shots which Robinson did well to hold as the hosts peppered Blackburn's goal. Their reply, to replace striker Jason Roberts with Nikola Kalinic.
But on 59 minutes Ryan Nelsen upended Drogba to concede a penalty and Lampard duly dispatched the spot-kick.
Drogba got in on the thrashing on 64 minutes, heading home a Michael Ballack corner from six yards out for the fifth goal before Terry managed to clear the ball off the line to preserve the Blues' clean sheet.
Chelsea then brought on 17-year-old Dutch centre-back Jeffrey Bruma for Ricardo Carvalho as the home side coasted to victory.